Two men from County Kerry in Ireland have been issued allegations linked to criminal activities and the largest-ever confiscation of crystal meth in the country, worth a staggering €32.8 million. Nathan McDonnell, 44, hailing from Ballyroe, Tralee, is alleged to have been privy to a criminal underworld and for aiding a serious crime committed by these criminals, specifically importing, selling, and distributing illegal narcotics from mid-October to mid-February.
James Leen, 41, from Kilmorna, Listowel, has been indicted with directing the operations of this criminal syndicate from the 7th of February, 2023 until mid-February. The pair have also been implicated for breaching the Misuse of Drugs Acts. They are accused of smuggling methylamphetamine, also called crystal meth, into Ireland through Cork Port in mid-October, as well as being in possession of, and intending to sell or distribute the drug at Ballyseedy Garden Centre, Tralee from late October to mid-February.
During a Tuesday hearing at the Tralee District Court, Prosecution Director, Diane Reidy stated that the regular courts were ill-equipped to oversee a case with such weighty charges. She argued that they fell short in ensuring justice. Minor changes were also made to the charge sheets regarding the dates, to which the defence did not object.
The defendants presented themselves individually at court and the investigating guards handed them their respective books of evidence. Patrick Mann, the legal representative of Mr Leen, voiced his client’s strong resistance to appearing at the Special Criminal Court for the drug-related charges. He stated that Mr Leen disputes the claim that the regular courts weren’t prepared to handle the case, he also disclosed that his client maintained the right to appeal the decision. Lastly, Judge David Waters has referred Mr Leen to trial on five separate charges.
Padraig O’Connell, the representing lawyer of Mr McDonnell, expressed no resistance to his client’s transfer to the court without a jury. His client’s intent to submit a plea in the three-judge court was something he wanted on record. O’Connell described his client as someone lacking financial resources, therefore, making an application for legal aid.
The presiding judge indicated the need to check if Mr McDonnell had financially gained from the liquidation of 19 businesses he had directed, a fact presented in unchallenged evidence. He mentioned that such a verification could be performed at the Special Criminal Court.
After the courtroom proceedings, Mr Leen was guided back to prison in Cork, while Mr McDonnell was transported to Portlaoise Prison.